USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg counts down to the start of the college football season team by team from No. 128 to No. 1.

This wasn't the worst team in program history; this was merely Arkansas' worst team in roughly 60 years, give or take a decade. In brief, the Razorbacks' guide for surviving the apocalypse:

Don't forget your shovels. Arkansas has gone as low as it can go – one couldn't believe this limbo bar could go so low – and will need to get dirty in the push to reclaim some sense of competitiveness in the nastiest division in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Share the blame. The defense was repulsive: Arkansas had a better group than Texas A&M, for example, but at least the Aggies tempered their defensive ineptitude with a ferociously unstoppable offense. The Razorbacks' own offense, on the other hand, made Houston Nutt's tendencies – and production – look revolutionary.

But feel free to pass the buck. "I really thought, coming in, because of the guy that I was replacing, I thought we would have a plethora of quarterbacks, wide receivers and offensive skill," second-year coach Bret Bielema said in May. "That really wasn't the case."

Imagine Auburn. The Tigers went from the outhouse to the penthouse in a single season, turning around a broken foundation and reaching the BCS National … on second thought, forget about Auburn.

Remember that Rome wasn't built overnight. It took about 200 years for the republic to take hold, as a matter of fact. Compared to Rome, the Razorbacks are ahead of the curve.

Batten down the hatches. Improvement will be imperceptible, snail-like, cautious, evident only to the diehard observer. Arkansas has a few of the latter.

Keep the faith. This should click, eventually. Time-honored traditions – say, like running the football with authority and preventing others from doing the same – are time-honored for a reason: because they work.

LAST YEAR'S PREDICTION:

Get ready, because here it comes. Arkansas will win some games early, hit a major roadblock in October and then likely hit some sort of groove late, falling outside of bowl eligibility but perhaps – maybe, just maybe – playing well enough in November to get to five wins. For the life of me, I cannot imagine any scenario where the Razorbacks get to six wins in Bielema's debut.

2013 RECAP:

In a nutshell: Last year's team was the program's first to go winless in league play since 1942, when the Razorbacks were members of the Southwest Conference. The conference losing streak has now reached 12 games: Arkansas' last league win was a 49-7 decision against Kentucky on Oct. 13, 2012. This is life: Arkansas must deal with the Southeastern Conference, and it's never going to be easy. But does it have to be so hard? The Razorbacks were outscored by nearly three touchdowns per game during SEC play, bottoming out in a two-week stretch against South Carolina and Alabama that defies explanation. The passing game completed less than half of its attempts; the pass defense allowed 25 touchdowns, tied for the third-most in the SEC during the last seven years. The running game stood as the third-best in the league on a per-game average, but consider: Arkansas rolled up nearly a fifth of its 2,504 yards when trailing by 15 or more points – when the opposing first-team defense was laughing on the sidelines. No matter how you color it, last season was a painful reminder of how far Arkansas stands outside the SEC title conversation.

High point: A 3-0 start. As expected, Arkansas took advantage of a smooth start to the regular season.

Low point: The 0-9 close. The worst: 30-10 at Florida, 52-7 to South Carolina and 52-0 at Alabama. That these defeats came in a three-week span was humbling, I'd say.

Tidbit: Arkansas hasn't scored a touchdown against Alabama in 141 minutes and six seconds of game time – or 983 days and a couple hours, depending on local time. The last touchdown occurred just inside the nine-minute mark of the third quarter on Sept. 24, 2011. Alabama has won the last two meetings by the identical score of 52-0.

Tidbit (schedule edition): Arkansas' 2014 schedule includes two reigning Bowl Championship Series participants: Auburn and Alabama. The schedule includes three teams in the top eight of last year's final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: Auburn, Alabama and Missouri. It includes nine teams coming off eight or more wins: Auburn, Alabama, Missouri, Texas Tech, Northern Illinois, Texas A&M, Georgia, LSU and Mississippi. Eight of those nine opponents – Georgia the exception – finished among the top 32 in the final Coaches Poll, if we dig into those teams receiving votes. If we remove Nicholls State from the equation, the lone opponent on Arkansas' schedule that shouldn't end its year in the postseason is UAB. The schedule is disgusting.

Tidbit (sacks edition): Arkansas' offensive line allowed only eight sacks last fall, tied with Notre Dame for the second-fewest in the FBS. The Razorbacks were just the third SEC team in seven years to allow fewer than 10 sacks, joining Tennessee in 2012 and 2007.

Offense: Well, it's time to sink or swim. Arkansas has fenced around junior Brandon Allen a rock-solid offensive front, one that could be even more improved with a number of offseason additions. The running game is clearly a positive; it's also headed for even greater things, given how the main cogs could leap forward as second-year contributors. But the health of this offense – and, by extension, the health of this entire team – hinges on Allen, the returning starter with ample room for improvement, to put it lightly. He made 11 starts a season ago, missing only that ugly loss at Rutgers, and cemented his hold on the starting job with an adequate spring; the Razorbacks have since moved A.J. Derby and Damon Mitchell off the position, leaving Allen as the sole and unquestioned triggerman for this passing game. How he responds is up for debate, and likely depends on your degree of optimism after an unbelievably depressing season.

In a perfect world, he'd be reliable: Arkansas doesn't need Allen to be Ryan Mallett, in other words, but the Wisconsin-like caretaker Bielema coveted during the Badgers' multiple runs to the Rose Bowl – think Scott Tolzien, by the way, not Russell Wilson. The Razorbacks need a success rate around 60%, give or take; Allen hit on less than half of his attempts in 2013. The offense needs composure in crunch time and success on makeable conversions; Allen was at his worst playing from behind and nearly inept on third down. Arkansas needs to trust its quarterback; Allen hasn't earned that trust. What he has done, however, is take advantage of opportunities: Allen averaged 12.1 yards per completion last fall, meaning he's been able to push the ball when defenses creep closer to the line of scrimmage.

Brandon Allen is due to take a step forward at quarterback for Arkansas this season.(Photo: Crystal LoGiudice, USA TODAY Sports)

Not to stress the point, but again: Allen holds the key. His performance during the spring was steady, if little more. At the very least, Allen was able to fend off any potential challengers – even if Derby and Mitchell were never viable options – and assert his place as one of the leaders of this offense. At the same time, you can sense the pressure. If he sinks even a touch, dropping below even last year's low standard, Arkansas shouldn't hesitate to replace Allen with either redshirt freshman Austin Allen, his younger brother, or true freshman Rafe Peavy, a ballyhooed gem among Arkansas' solid recruiting class. If Brandon Allen swims, however, it's easy to see Arkansas' offense taking a major step forward, balancing out a steady ground game with the danger of the forward pass. I don't blame you for not jumping on board.

It's not all bad news. The backfield is terrific, for starters. Begin with sophomore Alex Collins (1,026 yards), and let's explain his nearly incalculable potential with three quick facts: one, he's Arkansas' best back since Darren McFadden, obviously, and already one of the best in the SEC; two, the Razorbacks went 3-0 when Collins earned at least 20 carries, which may or may not be a coincidence; and three, he was the first freshman in SEC history and the first back nationally since Adrian Peterson in 2004 to begin his true freshman season with three 100-yard games in a row. Phew. What's the ceiling? Don't try to put a cap on it. Between Collins, junior Jonathan Williams (900 yards) – the forgotten man, and a terrific team leader – and Korliss Marshall, Arkansas has the horses to churn out yards in bunches on the ground. One thing to watch: Arkansas is going to miss fullback Kiero Small, a bulldozer of the highest order, so let's see if Kody Walker – or another fullback – can pick up the slack and lead this group through the hole.

I really like the offensive line. Hey, Sam Pittman's the line coach – so don't be surprised that this group did so well protecting the quarterback and opening up lanes in its first season in Bielema's approach. One new addition might change the line's makeup: Cameron Jefferson comes over from UNLV, where he was a three-year starter, and should push Mitch Smothers for the starting job at left guard. Last year's left guard, sophomore Dan Skipper, will move out to left tackle, replacing a good one in David Hurd; Skipper has every physical asset available to shine, but he's going to struggle at times in the transition to the blind side. But in Skipper and sophomore right guard Denver Kirkland, Arkansas has two future all-conference picks at two vital positions. Look for Brey Cook to retain the job at right tackle, though I imagine the Razorbacks would love to give him some competition, while senior Luke Charpentier steps in for Travis Swanson at center. Swanson was under-the-radar superb as a senior, but Charpentier can be an adequate replacement should he match Swanson's ability to identify tendencies pre-snap.

Dan Skipper, who's moving down the line to tackle along the Razorbacks' offensive front, celebrates a field goal block last season.(Photo: Rob Foldy, USA TODAY Sports)

Defense: Three new faces join the party: Robb Smith, formerly of Rutgers and the NFL, takes over as defensive coordinator; former TCU secondary coach Clay Jennings assumes the same position, and he's a great hire; and Rory Segrest steps in as line coach. The new guys will assume the pieces of a defense that doesn't really resemble an SEC defense, with all that comparison entails. The big question: Can Arkansas' defensive line deliver? The Razorbacks have a potential all-conference end in Trey Flowers (44 tackles, 13.5 for loss), not to mention some nice sophomore ends in Deatrich Wise, Brandon Lewis and JaMichael Winston; Wise in particular was a bright spot during the spring. But one standout end, several still-on-the-rise sophomores and little in the way of confidence at tackle … it's not the best situation in the SEC.

Arkansas defensive end Trey Flowers (86) sacks LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger (8) in the first half of their game last Nov. 29 at Tiger Stadium.(Photo: Crystal LoGiudice, USA TODAY Sports)

Let's look at the bright side. Perhaps Wise is the real deal, which would give Arkansas a pair of good producers on the edges. That's a start. Tackles Darius Philon (46 tackles, 9.0 for loss) and DeMarcus Hodge are talented enough, though Hodge's size – he's a big one – makes him a potential asset against the run while demanding bodies in reserve. One could be incoming freshman Bijhon Jackson, who has the frame and brute strength to play major snaps from the start. While the shortage of depth inside seems like an issue, Smith proved at Rutgers to be extremely willing to roll with a three-man front. If he does make this part of Arkansas' repertoire, Smith could put Hodge, Philon or Jackson on the nose and stand up one of his athletic sophomore ends as a rush outside linebacker. That could be interesting. But in the total picture, this defensive front is among the weakest – or most unproven, put another way – in the SEC.

A late JUCO addition, Joshua Williams, could provide a bit of shakeup to the two-deep at linebacker during fall camp. At the very least, look for Williams to provide some depth in the middle, where sophomore Brooks Ellis (33 tackles) seems to have a firm grasp on the starting job. Ellis will be flanked by a pair of seniors: Braylon Mitchell (77 tackles) is fine on the strong side, if not as disruptive as the Razorbacks might like, while former JUCO transfer Martrell Spaight should make a name as one of the hardest-hitting linebackers in the conference. This should end being Arkansas' top trio, though Otha Peters will likely carve out a role in some capacity. Smith wants this group to do three things: get after the ball, wrap up and always, always be aggressive.

A more aggressive style could benefit this secondary, though Smith's approach could also backfire on occasion – you know, with lapses and missteps in the secondary exacerbated by a more blitz-happy pass rush. These defensive backs may also play more aggressively, shuffling in and out of press coverage, but I can't imagine Smith has significant confidence in this group's ability to stick with receivers on an island. So it's a balancing act, basically, as Smith looks to weigh his desired defense with the assets at his disposal. One nice weapon is senior strong safety Alan Turner (97 tackles), the leader of the secondary. At cornerback, Arkansas will team senior Tevin Mitchell (47 tackles) with sophomore Jared Collins, who must improve, while D.J. Dean, Will Hines and several freshmen could add depth. There's a competition brewing at free safety, but I think Rohan Gaines would be Arkansas' best solution.

Special teams: Zach Hocker's gone – off to the Redskins, and good luck with that – but the Razorbacks have already anointed incoming freshman Cole Hedlund as the next kicker. Punter Sam Irwin-Hill can uncork some boomers, helping out this defense, and Korliss Marshall has the burst to become an electric returner. The bad news: Arkansas' coverage teams need a drastic overhaul. Last year's results are unacceptable.

POSITION(S) TO WATCH:

Wide receiver: It's easy to fall in love with sophomore tight end Hunter Henry (28 receptions for 461 yards), a future all-conference pick – once Arkansas finds a concrete quarterback – who joins Collins in giving the Razorbacks a pair of sterling second-year starters. As of today, Henry is the passing game's lone weapon of consequence. That needs to change, obviously. Two factors to watch: one, whether junior Keon Hatcher (27 for 346) can develop into a go-to target, giving Arkansas more burst downfield, and two, whether senior Demetrius Wilson and junior D'Arthur Cowan can make injuries a thing of the past – both have struggled staying healthy – and add juice to a rotation short on depth. In terms of bodies, the Razorbacks did add four recruits in February; two, JUCO transfer Cody Hollister and intriguing freshman Jared Cornelius, enrolled early. Based on the spring, it's entirely possible that Cornelius earns a starting nod at some point during the regular season. Add Damon Mitchell and Eric Hawkins to the list and you have the basic outline of Arkansas' options. So what's the story? Henry will make some linebackers and safeties look silly, which should be fun, but the receiver corps is as weak as you'll find in the SEC. Tomorrow may be better. But given the situation under center and these receivers, this group simply doesn't look like it'll get it done in 2014.

GAME(S) TO WATCH:

Texas A&M: Arkansas doesn't have to beat Auburn; the Razorbacks just can't lose by 30 points. From there, it's all about scratching and clawing four or more wins out of a deadly schedule. One game stands out: A&M is rebuilding on offense, so the opportunity is there for Arkansas to pull out an upset win at a neutral site. Just don't bet on it. A win against the Aggies would vault Arkansas into the heart of SEC play, for one, while giving Bielema and the second-year staff that tenure-defining victory.

SEASON BREAKDOWN & PREDICTION:

In a nutshell: Well, this isn't Auburn. No miracles will happen here; there will be no worst-to-first routine from these Razorbacks, who remain well behind the pack in an SEC again brimming with title contenders, and in the West Division in particular. But you knew this. The most important thing about this season: Arkansas will be better than last season. Now, the record might suggest otherwise – more than three wins, I think, but not much more – but this will be a better team. Is that enough? It better be. The worst might not be over, but it won't get worse than last season. Baby steps for these Razorbacks.

Listing all that Arkansas lacks seems wasteful, but here goes: quarterback play, receivers, defensive line, linebackers, secondary, experience, confidence. Outside of Kentucky, no SEC team brings less to the table – and that's partially an indictment of Arkansas, largely a statement about another deep year in this conference. Boiled down, Arkansas' flaws can be best defined by a woefully inept passing game and a front seven lacking the depth and toughness to dictate the flow of attack during conference play. Boiled down further, the Razorbacks' inability to balance out this solid running game is the team's Achilles heel. The offense needs balance; it has none.

So prepare for another season of painful results. Two sure wins: Nicholls State and UAB. A third win probably comes from Northern Illinois … maybe, at least. The rest are losses on paper, though I do think Arkansas snatches an SEC win after a season spent solely in the loss column. Four wins is my guess, with the potential for five should Allen and the passing attack defy my expectations. I can't imagine a scenario where Arkansas gets to six wins. That has to be enough. Why? Because that's all Arkansas is built to do. Keep focus on the future – it'll get better.

Who's No. 88? The last time this program suffered a four-game drop in the win column it took three full years before its next winning season.

RANKING EVERY FBS TEAM FOR 2014

No. 128 UMass: The Minutemen have a new coach, Mark Whipple, but the same outlook on what should be a dismal 2014 season. Even in a Mid-American Conference without viable contenders outside the top four, UMass is a long shot to win more than one game during the regular season. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 127 Florida International: One season after playing the worst football of its Football Bowl Subdivision existence, FIU attempts to rebound under second-year coach Ron Turner. The Golden Panthers would need to take three significant steps forward to merely contend in Conference USA. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 126 Eastern Michigan: Chris Creighton steps into Ypsilanti and assumes one of the toughest coaching jobs in the country. The Eagles’ new coach will have a promising young quarterback to work with but not much else. It’s going to be another down season for EMU. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 125 Georgia State: Georgia State is no longer the worst program in the country, which is a good start. Next, GSU must embrace Trent Miles’ approach on both sides of the ball while the staff adds talent on the recruiting trail. The future might still hold promise, but this year’s team is only slightly improved compared to last year’s version. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 124 Georgia Southern: One of the nation’s newest Football Bowl Subdivision brings a history of success and last year’s win against Florida to the table. But Georgia Southern is still undergoing a coaching change while adapting to the heightened level of competition, two factors that set the bar low for 2014. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 123 Hawaii: The goodwill has run out on Norm Chow, who has coached Hawaii through its worst two-year stretch in decades. To improve, the Warriors need to locate a quarterback and find a pulse on defense to match with the rest of the Mountain West Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 122 Miami (Ohio): A program built on a history of successful coaching hires now hands the reins to former Notre Dame assistant Chuck Martin. While he’s an upgrade on the sidelines, Martin is going to need at least two years to rebuild the RedHawks from the bottom up. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 121 Idaho:
Paul Petrino’s fiery style and offensive mindset has fit well into the Vandals’ underdog mentality, but drive and hunger will only get you so far without the talent needed to win more than three games during the regular season. Idaho’s offense is better, but the team as a whole still lags. That talent took another hit on July 20 when Dezmon Epps (1) was kicked off the team in the wake of a DUI. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 120 UAB: This program is excited about its potential under Bill Clark, who replaces Garrick McGee, but Clark has his hands full with a roster and program beaten down by a miserable decade. If the Blazers do exceed expectations, Clark’s ability to maximize his roster will be the cause. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 119 Appalachian State: This program moves up a level after a surprisingly ineffective final year in the Football Championship Subdivision. To rebound, the Mountaineers need to rely on a pair of sophomores at quarterback and running back. While the promise is there, the first year could be ugly. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 118 Army: Go Army, beat Navy. But first, the Cadets must prove they can beat any team on the 2014 schedule. A coaching change helps, but Todd Monken needs to roll up his sleeves and bring back some toughness to a program too accustomed to season-ending losses to the rival Midshipmen. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 117 Western Michigan: P.J. Fleck and the Western Michigan staff can recruit, but can they coach? The jury’s still out after a 1-11 season, and even if talent is on the way it’s hard to imagine the new freshmen immediately reversing the Broncos’ slide to the bottom of the Mid-American Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 116 California: Cal’s shortage of talent, experience and depth makes the Golden Bears the weakest major-conference program in the country. Playing in the Pac-12 doesn’t help. In terms of a positive, Sonny Dykes has found his quarterback and has accumulated enough receivers to make this passing game work. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 115 New Mexico State: The schedule will paint a better picture, but New Mexico State remains one of the weaker programs in the country. Even if the Aggies squeeze out four wins, they are devoid of the sort of difference-making talent to contend for a top-five finish in the Sun Belt Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 114 UTEP: The Miners need to remain healthy after a season ravaged by injuries. Second-year coach Sean Kugler can’t control injuries, but he’s on the hook for one of the worst defenses in college football. Helping matters is an offense led by quarterback Jameill Showers, but it won’t be enough. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 113 Southern Mississippi: With a long losing streak over, the Golden Eagles can look forward to this fall on a high note. Optimism helps, but to regain a foothold in Conference USA the Eagles must do a better job protecting the football and limiting big plays on defense. The outlook is still pessimistic. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 112 Kansas: Charlie Weis enters his third year at Kansas with little hope of bringing the Jayhawks out of the Big 12 cellar. The offense lacks skill players, has no help up front and a rookie at quarterback. The defense could be a nice story, but only if the pass rush improves. As is, KU is the weakest team in the league. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 111 UNLV: The team must continue last year’s push without the opportunity to reach another bowl game, thanks to an NCAA postseason ban. While the talent is there, Bobby Hauck and the Rebels could struggle matching last season’s finish without any hopes of playing into December. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 110 New Mexico: Three years after his arrival, Bob Davie has successfully added the depth needed to reach the postseason. But New Mexico’s questionable defense, shortage of experience on both sides of the ball and lack of balance on defense should prevent the Lobos from breaking through to six wins. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 109 Tulane: The program's biggest issue will be the increased level of difficulty with the move from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference. Another concern is a roster that lacks the experience and proven production needed to run with teams like UCF, Cincinnati and Houston. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 108 Purdue: This team is at least another full season away from being considered more than an afterthought in the Big Ten. One issue is talent: Purdue has none. Another is the feeling that this program is headed on a downturn due to years of coaching missteps and mismanagement. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

107 Kent State: With big gaps in the backfield and defensive tackle, Kent State will need a team effort to move back into bowl play. That won’t happen unless the offense locates a receiver, the defense lands a pass rush and the team as a whole lucks into one or two upset wins. The Golden Flashes are headed for a four-win season. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 106 Old Dominion: ODU is the best first-year Football Bowl Subdivision program in recent history, if that means anything. What the Monarchs do well is move the ball offensively; what they do poorly is play defense. While Old Dominion has the foundation to eventually succeed, the first season is always the hardest. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 105 Wake Forest: First-year coach Dave Clawson is familiar with rebuilding projects, which should come in handy as he takes over for Jim Grobe at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are too young to contend on either side of the ball against the best teams in the ACC, but things might need to get worse before they get better. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 104 Kentucky: The Wildcats’ recruiting efforts yielded one of the nation’s best classes in February, but those incoming freshmen will need at least a season or two to get a taste of the Southeastern Conference. While Kentucky’s future remains bright, Mark Stoops and his staff need at least one more mulligan before being viewed by wins and losses. Look for more of the latter in 2014. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 103 Wyoming: Landing one of the top Football Championship Subdivision coaches in history made this a successful offseason. Whether it’ll be a successful regular season depends on whether or not Craig Bohl can work miracles with this roster. Bohl’s a great hire, but no coach in the country could lead the Cowboys to the top of the Mountain West Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 102 Air Force: A down season led Air Force to recommit itself to competition. That should lead to the best 22 players starting on both sides of the ball, but it won’t be enough to totally overhaul a defense fresh off the worst season in program history. The Falcons should be happy with four or five wins. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 101 Colorado: Colorado’s a four-win team in the Pac-12, one of two in the conference without a realistic hope of reaching bowl eligibility. That’s a negative, but the program’s recent growth points to a bright future. That breakthrough is coming in 2015, however. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 100 SMU: The Mustangs need a jolt of energy after a sluggish 2013 season. Unfortunately, the offense lost its top receivers and the defense is dangerously young in the secondary. Combined, SMU looks like one of the bottom three teams in the American Athletic Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 99 Iowa State: The Mark Mangino-led offense might be good enough to steal an upset during Big 12 play, but the defense ensures another season of nine or more losses for the Cyclones. In total, Iowa State has the league’s worst defense from top to bottom. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 98 Rutgers: This team is going to struggle at first in joining the Big Ten, if only due to a nasty schedule, but the real test will be whether or not the program can regain some footing and eventually challenge for footing in the East Division. When it comes to 2014, the Scarlet Knights are headed for eight losses. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 97 Florida Atlantic: South Florida-raised Charlie Partridge returns to his old stomping grounds with a reputation as a dogged and tireless recruiter of the region's fertile base. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 96 Memphis: The coaching is in place, the losing mentality has been reversed and the roster has been rebuilt, but Memphis remains a year away from ending its long and painful absence from the postseason. One reason is a brutal schedule. Another is the lack of depth nearly across the board, which could cause the Tigers to fall apart if injuries are an issue during the second half. (Photo: Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 95 Virginia: This program's defense might be good enough to lead the Cavaliers to four or five wins during the regular season, but a young offense and a general lack of confidence could doom 2014 before the start of ACC play. If UVa does again find itself at or near the bottom of the conference, the university might opt to make a coaching change. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 94 Akron: If no longer the doormat of the Mid-American Conference, Akron remains a season away from reaching bowl eligibility under Coach Terry Bowden. While the Zips have talent and confidence, the lack of experience and depth will be an issue against the better teams on the 2014 schedule. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 92 South Florida: Willie Taggart's blueprint for South Florida has been recruiting, as his latest class doubled as the best in the American Athletic Conference. But the team needs coaching; it needs leadership, conviction and a sense of identity, and it definitely needs a quarterback. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 91 Texas State: Unsatisfied with six wins, Texas State spent the offseason installing an up-tempo offense and a new aggressive style on defense. In the long run, these changes will help the Bobcats get over the hump and contend for the Sun Belt Conference championship. In 2014, however, the Bobcats should struggle in the transition to the new philosophies. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 90 Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers and Jeff Brohm begin play in Conference USA with a questionable passing game and nine new full-time starters on defense. While the Hilltoppers should be competitive in Conference USA, it should take a year for the program to solve its issues on both sides of the ball. (Photo: Jim Brown, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 89 Arkansas: A dreadful passing game and holes on defense will doom
Arkansas to another losing season. Then there’s the schedule, which ranks among
the most difficult for any team in the country. The Razorbacks need at least
one more year before they make noise in the SEC West Division.
<o:p></o:p> (Photo: Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 88 North Carolina State: The Wolfpack is counting on a collection of campus newcomers and a former star recruit turned transfer - Jacoby Brissett - for a turnaround in 2014. (Photo: Rob Kinnan, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 85 Central Michigan:
Running back Saylor Lavallii (6) is one of the reasons the Chippewas are one of the most experienced teams in the MAC. But they also have questions at a number of positions, including quarterback. (Photo: James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 84 Illinois:
Running back Donovonn Young (5) and the Fighting Illini tend to be unpredictable in their performance, but they have high hopes that solid quarterbacking will provide a quick reversal of fortune in 2014. (Photo: Bradley Leeb, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 83 Tulsa:
End Brentom Todd and his teammates on the defensive side of the ball may have to carry a little extra load as the Golden Hurricane offense rights itself in 2014. (Photo: Beth Hall, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 82 Nevada:Defensive end Rykeem Yates (55) and the Wolf Pack are aiming for a drastic improvement in run defense in 2014. And a return to the Nevada running game production of the past would help, too. (Photo: Melina Vastola, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 81 Boston College:
Eagles defensive back Sean Sylvia (19) is part of a secondary that needs to click quickly in 2014. But fortunately for B.C. other aspects of its team don't have a lot of questions, just growing expectations. (Photo: Mark Konezny, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 78 West Virginia:
The Mountaineers had a severely disappointing season in 2013, but with players with the talent of cornerback Daryl Worley dotting the roster, a turnaround in 2014 would not be surprising. (Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 76 San Jose State:
Thomas Tucker (3) and San Jose State have the talent to contend for the Mountain West title, but the Spartans will have to resolve a big question at quarterback get a performance out of its new 4-3 defense that is worthy of its talent. (Photo: Ed Szczepanski, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 70: Middle Tennessee State
The Blue Raiders have perhaps Conference USA's best linebacker in T.T. Barber (38), but they will need to match their efficiency at stopping the run with their new commitment to an offensive run attack. (Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 69 Indiana:
The Hoosiers have an overhauled receiving corps, but its offensive line and backfield led by Tevin Coleman (6) gives Indiana one of the Big Ten's best attacks for 2014. (Photo: Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 67 Minnesota:
Though the Golden Gophers are strong on the run, quarterback Mitch Leidner (7) will need to get the passing game uncorked for the team to maximize its results this season. (Photo: Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 66 Utah:
The Utes are unsettled at many positions, adding value to the steady performance provided by players such as Dres Anderson (6), a 1,000-yard receiver in 2013. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 65 North Texas:
Antoinne Jimmerson (22) and teammates Reggie Pegram and Rex Rollins form a stout backfield for the Mean Green, which will rely on them heavily while sorting out its quarterback situation. (Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)